QR Code #Fails

This past week we were discussing new trends in marketing on the #AECSM (Architect/Engineer/Construction Social Media) tweet chat held every Tuesday at 3pm Central. One trend I mentioned was nearly every CEO & VP wants an app and QR code without thinking about the usage and practicality of them. Many of us then started talking about poor uses of QR Codes. By popular request, here are a few QR Code Fails:

I think the image’s explanation says it all.

Is the code too small to scan, take a step closer.

Learn more about protecting yourself by pulling out your expensive smartphone in public to scan this QR code. This is actually a great idea to rob people.

One of the all time best locations for QR codes – on billboards for passing cars to scan. Hopefully this image was taken by a passenger, not the driver.

By the time I even get the app open, the QR code will be off the screen unless you use a DVR to pause it.

Even if you leave the QR code up for 10 minutes, it doesn’t matter when you block it.

Actually a great usage, one of my favorites, but as gabeuscorpus on Flickr notes, the code brings you to a parsley page.

As you can see, this is a long post, but there are so many more. Just Google “QR Code Fail” or go to WTF QR Codes.com. Please add links to any other QR Code misuses, stupidity, or failures in the comments.

By the way, a fun QR code is this crossword puzzle that doubles as a QR code.